Chapter 4:

So this chapter should come fairly quickly (meaning less than four months) after the third… so… don't hate me? I know that was a bit of a cliff-hanger, but I have to raise the tension somehow, you know?

Anyway, here it is! Enjoy!

Disclaimer and Warning: I own nothing, there will be some close quoting & there will be bad language present in this chapter

"And the female tribute for District 12 is… Luna Malfoy!"

Draco couldn't breathe.

The crowd around him had gone deadly silent. No child cried, no better buzzed, even the wind itself was silently rolling through the crowd, almost mournfully. No one ever liked it when a young child was chosen as a tribute. Especially a well-known, well loved, kind girl like Luna.

Draco was frozen in a state of shock, barely feeling Blaise's hand on his arm to stop him from falling. It was impossible. She was only entered once! One name in thousands! The odds were completely in her favour! He had forbidden either of the twins from taking any tesserae. There was no way…

He was abruptly jolted out of his stupor when he heard Colin scream and saw the Death Eaters trying to take Luna from her twin's tight grasp. Draco jerked forward, tearing his arm away from Blaise and pushing his way through the crowd until he made it to the centre space where they were trying to get Luna onstage, two Death Eaters holding a hysterical Colin back.

"Luna!" Draco's shout rang out as he rushed forward and snatched Luna from the Death Eaters and shielded her behind him, pushing her into the arms of Blaise (already holding the still sobbing Colin), who had followed him to the kids.

Draco eyed the orange clad man onstage, squared his thin shoulders and took a deep breath.

"I volunteer. I volunteer in place of the female tribute of District 12." He could practically taste the disbelief that wafted through the air. No one volunteers in District 12. All people who lived there only cared about surviving day by day. Draco was sending himself off to slaughter, saying that his family meant more to him than his own life.

"Oh! A volunteer! I'm assuming you're related to young Miss Luna? You won't be able to volunteer if you're not, dear." Draco nearly let out a slightly hysterical laugh at the "are you kidding me?" faces that the entire District pulled. Not only do they know the whole family, from Narcissa and Draco's trades to the twin's goat cheese and the family apothecary, both the twins behind him and the younger boy struggling from the limp arms of the man they used to call father in the crowd looked nearly identical to Draco. Add to the fact that they were the only family in the Seam with blond hair and silver eyes, it was undeniable that they were related. Draco nodded anyway.

"I am. I'm her oldest brother: Draco Malfoy, 16 years of age." The words were tight in his throat, but managed to weasel themselves out of his mouth, barely heard through the thick emotions rampaging beneath his skin.

Barty smiled, satisfied with the answer, and beckoned Draco to join him on the stage. Draco struggled lightly against the three children hanging onto him desperately and fought back tears at their heart wrenching cries. He kneeled down and pulled the three into his chest, hugging them tightly before passing them off to Blaise, who nodded at him. They'd talk again in a few minutes in Hogsmeade building, where the tributes were taken to say the last goodbyes to their families. Draco attempted to reconstruct his cold, uncaring mask by standing tall and faking confidence, but he knew he was still shaking like a leaf too much to look it. He contented himself by walking to the stage with as much of the grace of the hunter he was that he could muster.

Draco stood with his hands clasped behind his back next to Barty, who turned back to the crowd and smiled brightly. Draco locked eyes with Lucius- who had watched the proceedings with ever growing sorrow- before looking towards his crying siblings, gripping onto Blaise like they were drowning and he was the only thing keeping them afloat. Draco tuned in to whatever Barty was saying.

"It looks like we'll be having two male tributes from District 12 this year! Now to the next tribute!" Barty sang as he bounced across to the glass ball on the other side of the stage.

"The other male tribute is… Ah. Sorry, this slip has Draco Malfoy on it, let's try another! Oh! What a spot of bad luck! It's you again! How many times did you enter your name young man?" It was meant to be rhetorical, but he answered anyway.

"48 times." There seemed to be a bit of shock throughout the richer people in the crowd, and Barty himself looked quite amusing with his gaping mouth, greatly resembling a goldfish, especially with his bright colours. He turned quickly without replying and reached into the ball once more.

Draco's stomach dropped to his feet when he saw Barty glance at him out of the corner of his eye and bite his lip. Draco didn't want to know why he suddenly looked apologetic.

As Barty read out the next name, Draco's world shattered.

"Colin Malfoy."

No.

No, it couldn't be. Why? Why Colin? Draco was already standing on the stage. He couldn't volunteer again. Every District needed two tributes. Draco knew that the only person who would volunteer for Colin was Blaise, but he couldn't; someone needed to stay behind and look after the remaining children.

Draco's knees nearly gave out when he saw little Colin- with his need for everything to be clean and neat, who sometimes had problems with his lungs when he got too excited about something, who had literally drooled once outside the cake displays in the bakery window- start to shuffle towards the stage. Draco's heart broke when he saw the same two tufts of hair from earlier on were starting to spike up again.

He looked around at the other boys in the crowd desperately. There had to be someone, anyone, who would volunteer for him. Draco's breathing started to get heavier as everyone he looked at avoided his gaze. Colin was only a few steps from the stage. Draco's eyes started to water, strong appearances be dammed. Just as Colin raised his foot to climb the first step onto the stage, Draco's eyes caught emeralds. It seemed as if time stopped for a moment, as Draco pushed one word to the forefront of his mind, hoping above all hopes that the other would receive the message.

Please.

Harry's eyes widened for a moment and his brows furrowed minutely- Draco very nearly started to cry- before his face took on a determined expression and he nodded. Draco hiccupped as he held back a sob- of relief or sorrow he did not know- when Harry raised his arm and spoke.

"I volunteer. Harry Potter, age 16. I volunteer for the male tribute of District 12." Draco's knees really did give out this time, but Snape was suddenly there, a steadying hand on his shoulder and another gripping his elbow tightly, keeping him standing. Draco was immensely grateful for the other man, as he'd already humiliated himself enough for the moment.

He watched as Harry made his way through the astonished crowd, passing Draco's family and Blaise, who reached an arm out to pat his shoulder while the children briefly grabbed at his hands. Harry smiled down at them and continued to the stage, lightly smoothing down Colin's hair as he passed the shell-shocked boy onto the stage. Colin stumbled back down the aisle and was immediately pulled into the arms of his twin and Dennis.

The whole District took a moment to just stare at Harry for a moment. Whatever it was that just happened, Draco still wasn't too sure himself (he numbly recognised the symptoms of shock), everyone understands that this is a thing that has never happened before. Not in District 12. While Draco volunteering for Luna was rare, it was understandable; she was family. But Harry? He had no connection to them, except for that day in the alley, but the only people who knew about that were currently standing opposite each other on stage being instructed to shake hands.

Draco shakily pulled himself away from Snape and reached for Harry, who moved forward to grasp hands. Draco surprised everyone (including himself) by throwing his arms around Harry's neck and hugging him tightly, unable to stop whispering "thank you" under his breath into the taller boy's chest. Harry squeezed tighter for a long moment, before pulling away and taking his hand gently. Draco composed himself once more to prepare for the rest of the ceremony.

The mayor stepped up to the podium to complete the Treaty of Treason and after a few more boring minutes, motioned for Barty to resume his position and finish the Reaping. Harry doesn't relinquish his comforting grip the entire time, softly rubbing small circles into Draco's thumb with his own. Draco's breathing started to regulate again as Barty (with suspiciously wet eyes) took his place and smiled at the crowd once more.

"Well! This year has definitely been eventful! Let's congratulate the two volunteers of District 12 for the 74th Hunger Games!" To the interminable credit of the District, not one person clapped, cheered, booed or jeered. Not even the nuisances from earlier, who had been betting that Draco would be in the Games. They stood in silence, showing the boldest refusal of the occurring events that they could manage. The message was loud and clear to any with eyes or ears, whatever was on hand at the time, Draco supposed. No. We do not agree. This should not be happening. This is wrong.

Harry clutched his hand even tighter when the most surprising thing- or not, really- happened next. Draco hadn't thought that the District really cared about either of them any more than just food providers, but it seemed that their shows of sacrifice (especially Harry's) shifted something within their hearts, as one by one, the people began to display a very old and very rarely used funeral gesture (symbolising gratitude, admiration, and farewell to someone you hold dear to your heart) of touching the three middle fingers of one's left hands to their lips and raising them out. The tributes held strong with their heads held high, even if both could feel the shaking of their intertwined hands, waiting as the anthem of Hogwarts plays from the screens surrounding the square.

…

Draco sat with his head in his hands on the plush couch facing the door in the grand room he had been directed to by the Death Eaters whom escorted him into Hogsmeade building. Of all the people to come to the Games with him, it had to be Harry.

He was startled into standing up when the doors to his waiting room slam open, barely having to open his arms before four young children toppled him back into his seat. Draco clutched them close, Dennis pressed into his chest while Luna, Colin and Theo- a welcome addition- clung to his arms, practically one being by this point, all squeezed together on his lap. Blaise and Hazelle stood behind them.

The door was left open and he nearly questioned it when another figure took up position in the doorway, not stepping into the room, hovering outside, unsure. Draco's brows furrowed as he stared down Lucius, daring him to enter the room. For a second Draco relaxed as Lucius took a step back, but he was immediately on his guard again when he visibly gathered courage and stepped into the room, shutting the door quietly behind him. Blaise saw him tense and not-so-subtly stepped forward in front of Lucius without looking back at him. Draco nodded up at him and turned back to the distraught children he had vowed to protect his entire life. He squeezed them close once more before leaning back and starting to talk to them.

"Look, I know this isn't ideal for us, and I know you're really scared right now- which is completely okay- but everything is going to be alright, alright? Blaise is going to help look after you for a little while, and you can all take care of yourself with the apothecary and with Hedwig. It's going to be okay. Now, I need my strong, beautiful, courageous boys and girl to look me in the eye and promise me that you'll all look after each other while I'm gone. Can you do that for me?" The four nodded at him and Hazelle handed them all some tissues. He could see the three eldest share a glance and nod at each other, pulling themselves together and hardening their faces (which broke his heart more than anything else), and set his sights on the youngest of the four, still clinging to his shirt, sniffling softly, tremors racking his diminutive body. Draco tipped the tear stained face up to meet his and smiled softly at his little brother, cupping his little face with his palms and leaning in to press feather-light kisses to his eyelids. This brought another round of sobs from the boy, prompting Draco to cradle him close to his chest and gently rock back-and-forth, singing out a soft lullaby to calm him down. Dennis eventually stopped the tears and leaned back, hiccupping as he tried to speak through his clogged throat.

"Y-you have to p-promise too Dray… you have to promise that- that you'll co-come back. You h-have to win, and come back. O-okay? Promise?" Draco couldn't do much more than nod and whisper his assurances, trying not to cry again. That would not be the best look for him when he stepped out of the building to board the train. He'd already embarrassed himself enough for the day and he couldn't afford to look weaker than he already had shown today- unless… He could use that as a strategy, like that girl who won just a few years ago from District 7, Amelia Bones, who pretended to be weak and starving for the majority of the games before there was only a few tributes left and she went on a ruthless killing spree with her axe, which she had pried from the dead hands of another tribute. He decided not to think too much on it now, during what could be the last moments he had with his family.

Draco gently lifted Dennis from his lap and stood, turning to Blaise and walking into his open arms, wrapping his arms around his best friend's waist for a second, squeezing as tight as he dared, before taking a deep breath and stepping back. He could see Blaise struggling to make a funny comment- most likely about Draco's hug with Harry earlier- but Draco just cupped his jaw in the same way he did to Dennis and pressed a kiss to his cheek. They didn't need to say anything. Draco knew he could trust Blaise and his mother- whom also received a hug (this time she was the one to kiss his forehead) to look after the kids when he was gone. Of course, Draco would try his best to get back to them, but he wasn't under any delusions that he would definitely win. And then there was Harry…

Draco turned to the last occupant of the room before he could think too much along those lines. Lucius stood where Draco had last seen him, just inside the doorway. Draco made sure his stare was as dead and uninterested as he could muster when Lucius met his eyes. The feeble man opened his mouth and closed it, took a deep breath and tried again, his voice barely reaching the ears of anyone else in the room before it was interrupted.

"Son-"

"Time's up." The Death Eater that had abruptly opened the door was one neither Draco nor Blaise had met before so they weren't able to argue for more time, and before he knew it Hazelle was being pushed out the door with Blaise and Theo and the woman was making a reach for the twins when he scooped them into his arms again and pressed lingering kisses to their foreheads along with Dennis' when he was in reach. He stood tall as they were being escorted out and watched Lucius suspiciously when he made his way towards him a final time.

"Just listen to me for a moment Draco, please. I know you despise me, and I know what I did was unforgivable. I apologise for not being there for you and your siblings through the past years, but I vow to you that I will look after them for the rest of my life. I understand that I'm too late to save you and you don't want my help, but I will fix my mistakes. Trust me on this." Lucius actually had the audacity to look shocked when a bitter laugh tore its way from Draco's throat.

"Trust you? I don't think so. I don't care that you've suddenly had a change of heart and decided that we're suddenly worth your time now. We don't need you. You stay by the rules I laid down because you better believe I'm coming back. Fuck the rest of your life. Those kids are mine, and you can't have them back. Just stay away from them. When I come back, if I find that you've done anything, anything at all, I. Will. Eviscerate. You. And feed you to the goddamn cat." Draco ignored how Lucius' eyes had become red rimmed, pivoting swiftly on his heel and stalking back to the lavish couch he'd earlier abandoned.

After a tense few seconds, Lucius slinked from the room, his tail hanging low between his legs. He paused, just at the doorway and Draco was so mad at himself for getting affected by the last thing he said.

"No matter what… no matter how much you loathe me… I'll always be proud of you."

Hello! I hope you liked the chapter! Draco will get to The Ministry in the next chapter I promise… I hope…

As always, I beg you to leave a review if you liked it (or didn't), or if you want to see anything special in the upcoming chapters!